I'm so glad to hear this report on the mobilization of people power by the labor unions! The two most vital components of the leftist democracy revolution in Latin America have been, a) honest, transparent elections, and b) GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION! Both are needed.
We have a LOT of work to do on "a." And the labor unions are clearly working hard on "b." But, frankly, it shouldn't be so hard! We shouldn't have to overcome "TRADE SECRET' voting machines, with the code owned and controlled largely by one, private, far rightwing-connected corporation (ES&S, which bought out Diebold). We shouldn't have to overcome voter purges and voter suppression and billions and billions of dollars in secret donations by far rightwing/corporate entities.
I hope the labor unions are not fooled by this election into believing that we have anything close to an honest, transparent election system. That should be top of their agenda for reform! It's not just "Citizens United." Things were way bad BEFORE "Citizens United. 2000, stolen. 2004, stolen, that time by Diebold and voter purges/suppression. 2008, reform mandate stolen from Obama. 2010, Congress stolen by ES&S/Diebold--the Diebold Congress--THE most unrepresentative Congress in U.S. history. And, by God, they've stolen the House again!
Corporate "TRADE SECRETS" have NO PLACE in our election system! We must get rid of these machines! We MUST! No other serious reform is possible without transparent vote counting!
We will forever be arguing against the looting of Social Security and Medicare instead of FOR true social justice, for instance, FOR decent Security Security pensions (not the pittances paid now) and FOR expansion of Medicare to all. We will forever be arguing against de-funding of education, instead of FOR free education through college for all. We will forever be arguing against fascists, instead of considering a variety of proposals for social progress and prosperity for all. That is one function of corporate-run "TRADE SECRET" voting systems--to keep the political discussion skewed to the insane far right!
Got to start with that. It's fundamental. Restore vote counting to the PUBLIC VENUE!
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